Orion, Kimberley Expedition ex Bali to Broome

14 Night Cruise sailing from Denpasar to Broome aboard National Geographic Orion. Hotel stay pre-cruise in Bali.

Days 1-2 Bali, Indonesia / Embark Ship
Arrive in Bali and make your way to our hotel where guests spend one night. On Day 2, board the National Geographic Orion in the afternoon and take to the waters of the Indian Ocean.

Day 3 Satonda / Sumbawa, Lesser Sunda Islands
Today we visit the uninhabited Indonesian island of Satonda—a small circular island that is an ancient volcanic cone. Spend the morning snorkeling or diving the vibrant reefs or hike inland to the island’s sacred lake. This afternoon visit the island of Sumbawa, where villagers welcome us with a lively cultural display.

Day 4 Komodo National Park
Explore Komodo National Park, home to the world’s largest living lizard—the Komodo dragon. Learn about the conservation of these prehistoric giants from park rangers, who join us on a hike to spot the lizards in their natural habitat. Then enjoy an afternoon of swimming, snorkeling, or beachcombing at Pink Beach, named for the soft pink hue that arises from the blending of red coral fragments and white sand.

Day 5 Waingapu, Sumba Island
The ancient harbor of Waingapu on East Sumba Island is one of Indonesia's hidden gems, with a beautifully rugged coastline that beckons to be explored. Our arrival will be celebrated with music, bright costumes, and traditional dance. The quality, pattern, and motifs of the ikat of East Sumba make it one of the most unique textiles in Indonesia. We’ll head inland to meet the locals and learn the history of these colorful pieces of woven art.

Day 6 Sawu Island, Indonesia
This morning we arrive in Indonesia at the small island of Sawu, located in the Sawu Sea. The deep trenches and strong current of the sea in this region make it an important corridor for migrating whales and sea turtles. Many species of fish can also be found in the vibrant coral reefs. Explore the area both above and below the sea by snorkel, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard.

Days 7-8 At Sea / Darwin, Northern Australia
Spend time on deck with our team of naturalists; listen to compelling presentations in the lounge; or enjoy one of the many onboard amenities. National Geographic Orion is required to make a quick technical stop in Darwin as we arrive in Australia.

Day 9 King George River and Falls
Zodiac up the King George River, with its almost vertical sheer canyon walls. Enjoy the opportunity to explore it at water level, and experience its towering red rock canyon walls. The river drains the Gardner Plateau here into spectacular King George Falls, the highest single-drop waterfalls in the Kimberley.

Day 10 Vansittart Bay / Jar Island / At Sea
Today our naturalists lead us to an outdoor Gwion Gwion Aboriginal art gallery on Jar Island. Discovered by Joseph Bradshaw in 1891, the rock images are estimated to be up to 40,000 years old. Nearby there is a wreck of a DC-3 aircraft that became lost and crashed during World War II. If time allows, explore the crash site and the remains of the plane.

Day 11 Bigge Island
Aboard Zodiacs, visit this rocky island jutting out of aqua seas, famous for Wandjina rock art. Composed of weathered sandstones and dolerites forming a rugged terrain, Bigge Island is crisscrossed by many deep grooves in the rock, forming valleys and fissures which support the island’s vegetation. Small monjon rock wallabies and the northern quoll thrive here free of predators.

Day 12 Hunter River (and optional helicopter to Mitchell Falls)
This is one of the most scenic parts of the Kimberley coast, lined with green rainforest, mangroves, and soaring red cliffs. National Geographic Orion drops anchor near Naturalists Island, also known by its indigenous name, Wunumpurramarra—a stunning backdrop to our day’s explorations. The Hunter River has many crocodiles, and we keep an eye out for them on a Zodiac foray through the mangroves. For those wishing to explore some of the Kimberley’s vast interior, today presents a wonderful opportunity. The distance from Naturalists Island to the famous Mitchell Falls and Plateau is about 30 miles, and guests may choose to take an optional helicopter tour over some spectacular terrain.

Day 13 Montgomery Reef
Conditions permitting, the tide at Montgomery Reef may drop rapidly away and a raging torrent of water erupts, as miles of surrounding reef appear to slowly rise out of the ocean. A Zodiac maneuvers us into a channel in the reef as water cascades down on either side. It is the perfect spot to watch for cormorants, egrets, and sandpipers foraging for sea life trapped on the surface of the reef. Below the waterline, opportunistic sea turtles, reef sharks, and many larger fish also take advantage of this feast.

Day 14 Talbot Bay / Horizontal Waterfalls
The Horizontal Waterfalls in the Buccaneer Archipelago are created by the rapid tidal fall on the ocean side of the cliffs. When conditions are right, a “waterfall” up to ten feet high may form as the trapped landward waters cascade out through the narrow gap to the ocean side. Enjoy a trip by Zodiac to witness this extraordinary phenomenon. Later in the day, guests can join our naturalists on an excursion to Cyclone Bay to explore the twisted geological folds of the ancient seabed.

Day 15 Lacepede Islands or Yampi Sound
Weather dependent, we will operate the Zodiacs through the low lying Lacepede Islands off the coast of the Dampier Peninsula or explore Yampi Sound. This group of islands has been classified an Important bird area where you will have the opportunity to see what is possibly the largest breeding colony of brown boobies in the world. Other birds, such as masked boobies, eastern reef egrets, and ruddy turnstones inhabit the islands as well.

Day 16 Broome / Disembark Ship
Disembark in Broome and transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Designed and purpose built in Germany in 2003 specifically for expedition travel, National Geographic Orion was created from the outset to explore the far corners of the Earth in complete self-sufficiency.

Engineered for maximum comfort and safety, Orion is equipped with the latest technology including large retractable stabilizers, sonar, radar, and an ice-strengthened hull. A shallow draft plus bow and stern thrusters provide the convenience of being able to maneuver close to shore. 14 Zodiacs ensure quick disembarkation and offer the ideal transport for up-close exploration.

National Geographic Orion meets strict specifications for environmental protection and the on board waste management systems meet the stringent Antarctic operational standards enabling us to travel to the most pristine environments. A host of advanced design features and technology ensures sustainable marine environmental practices.

For over 50 years, Lindblad Expeditions has been turning vacationers into informed and engaged explorers. Together with National Geographic we offer intimate small-ship expedition cruises that, unlike traditional cruises, are your opportunity to encounter the world’s most pristine and inspiring places up close with the seasoned experts who know them best.

Our expedition cruises provide the safest and most innovative ways to explore places already “discovered” and those that are still very, very wild. Whether you choose to go on a Galapagos cruise, an Alaska cruise, a cruise to Egypt, or any of our other cruise destinations, each expedition cruise features an unmatched combination of adventure travel technology as well as well-appointed cabins, regional and sustainable cuisine and friendly, personal service.

We believe the more closely our guests are able to connect with a destination, the more valuable an affect it will have on their lives and on the more they will come to care about and protect it for future exploration.